Topic: Running new tail lights

[CJDavis]

Hey guys, going to build a flatbed on my 85 pickup and need help converting from the stock tail lights to the typical oval brake and turn signals.  How do I deal with the wiring harness. 

[Volcom]

I'm right in the middle of converting my 4Runner taillights to some oval LED's.





The LED's have 3 wires, ground, wire for the turn signal, and for the brake.  I don't have a stock Toyota taillight in front of me since I'm at work but I think I remember seeing 4 bulbs in there.  Brake, turn, reverse, and a small parking bulb.  There's 5 wires in the stock harness.  One is a ground and the other 4 are for the bulbs.  I was able to take a spade connector and small piece of wire to connect to the harness  and connect the LED.  Since I don't plan on a reverse light, I could skip that bulb.  I also skipped the small parking bulb.

I need to make sure mine work with the parking lights on and while pushing the brake pedal.  I'll take some pics this weekend and update this thread.

[CJDavis [OP]]

I took my bed off tonight and noticed that the wiring to the lights goes into a plug, and then from the plug it splits out into 2 wires per light.  Is it correct to assume that I could buy my lights and just cut the two wires and connect them to the 2 wires from the aftermarket light, or are there more than 2 wires needed per light?  May be basic questions but I know nothing about wiring. 

Thanks for the help

[CJDavis [OP]]

ttt.... anybody?

[Volcom]

I took my bed off tonight and noticed that the wiring to the lights goes into a plug, and then from the plug it splits out into 2 wires per light.  Is it correct to assume that I could buy my lights and just cut the two wires and connect them to the 2 wires from the aftermarket light, or are there more than 2 wires needed per light?  May be basic questions but I know nothing about wiring.

Yes, you only need two wires per light.  One's a ground (my rear taillight's ground is white) and the other is a 12v power.

OK, worked on getting closer to having them installed. Stock Toyota rear taillights are a 4 bulb setup (5 wire) (brake, turn, parking, reverse). The LED's are a 3 wire setup, brake , turn / parking, and ground. So I tested the lights with a wire running from the brake and a wire from the turn to the single wire of the LED. I ran another single wire from the parking to the parking

*  Parking lights on the LED work fine
*  Brake light work fine on the LED
*  Turn signals work fine on the LED.

My only problem is when you have a turn signal on and you apply the brake. The turn signal stops working and it's solid for the brakes. I'm thinking I should have gotten some small turn signal lights and separated them. Anybody else have this problem running a signal light in the rear to run parking, turn, and brake lights??

[Volcom]

Looks like I'll need to buy a couple of 3 to 2 wire trailer light converters.  That should take care of my non-blinker when the brakes are on.

[CJDavis [OP]]

thanks,  from what i understand, I will bed fine with regular lights.  Just cut the existing wires to each light and connect them to the new respective light (brake turn and reverse)

[Volcom]

I bought a taillight converter but decided to take the easy way out and just bought some 2" amber LED's for turn signals rather than having to wire up the converter.  I got everything hook up last night, I've got turn signals, brake lights, and parking lights that all work together 

[jimbo74]

how are the leds with the oe system? will you have to use a resistor of some sort? i replaced my oe front turn signals with 194 bulbs (much smaller) and they make my turn signals blink like they are on speed

[Volcom]

how are the leds with the oe system? will you have to use a resistor of some sort? i replaced my oe front turn signals with 194 bulbs (much smaller) and they make my turn signals blink like they are on speed

They fast blink for now but I still don't have the front turn signals hooked up.  I'm guessing they will still fast blink after getting everything hooked up.  Not a big deal for me.

[jimbo74]

They fast blink for now but I still don't have the front turn signals hooked up.  I'm guessing they will still fast blink after getting everything hooked up.  Not a big deal for me.

yeah, all my lights are hooked up and work, the turns jsut fast blink, im not worried, i like it though... the hazards work normally, so i know it is an issue of the relays causing it

[MC387]

There is a thread, I believe on yotatech about how to modify your flasher so it wont fast blink.